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Thread: Things that make me grumpy

  1. #1081
    Senior Member bb1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Woodsy View Post
    Get a phone call Saturday morning for a feral front yard mow and trim. Go and quote within an hour and get the job straight away. Was being slack and didn't check some long grass before running the mower off of it. Took the top off of the water meter. Rang SA Water this morning and they think I am up for around $200 at least. Now I will always check before just running the mower through.
    I was visiting my parents today, and the Jim's mower guy was sitting waiting in his truck next door , when the plumber turns up to fix the water, appears jimbo also hit the mains.

  2. #1082
    Member Woodsy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    At least mine didn't mean gushing water. The meter is still intact.

  3. #1083
    Member of forum Jayk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Woodsy View Post
    Get a phone call Saturday morning for a feral front yard mow and trim. Go and quote within an hour and get the job straight away. Was being slack and didn't check some long grass before running the mower off of it. Took the top off of the water meter. Rang SA Water this morning and they think I am up for around $200 at least. Now I will always check before just running the mower through.
    ive done one, and one of my workers has done one woodsy so dont feel like ur the only one. the first time the sa water bloke fixed it for free, and the second time i think it was united water. they normaly bill the residence regardless of who does the damage, but i asked them to bill me. we (my client) and i are still waiting for a bill and it was well over 2 years ago... so maybe a trick for ya pal!
    "Time trial. Start as fast as possible, finish as fast as possible and hope it is fast enough,"

  4. #1084
    Member Tender Lovin Lawn&Garden's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    ive done one and had 2 different employees do one each. I have a plumber that for 40 cash comes and fixes them ever time it was just the copper pipe getting a slice in it so a simple join fixes it. If you didnt hurt the meter did you try just getting a plumber. I reckon the council should stick them in like a solonoid box in the ground that way you just run over the top of them with no damage caused.
    Tender Lovin Lawn and Garden Care
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    find us on facebook under Tender Lovin Lawn and Garden Care

  5. #1085
    Member Vic TomS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    1. Legally, do you have to repair anything you break? I always have done but their bloody stones in the grass should be their fault for the broken window I think.. love a legal opinion.

    2. I'm sick of underquoting on big feral brushcutter jobs.. they always take longer than I think and I'm worried I'm going to blow up my brushcutter.

    3. Driving 20 minutes then having a client want a $150 job for $50. I've started ballparking on the phone to check if the client is serious before I drive over 15 mins.. I say 'It'll be at least $150 'or whatever and see what they say.. for some its the end of the conversation, for the rest I know its worth quoting. Sometimes they say 'oh yeah, that'd be cheap!' and you know you can quote high.

    4. People who want a lower price for a feral lawn because its going to be fortnightly then never get you back again!

  6. #1086
    Senior Member PaulG's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Why are SA water meters placed in such an exposed place or was this a rare one?

  7. #1087
    Member Of Forum MowerRob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by PaulG View Post
    Why are SA water meters placed in such an exposed place or was this a rare one?
    Most times they are placed in the middle of the lawn(they usually sit about 10-15cm high)and are in line with the letter box.

  8. #1088
    Member Andy B's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by Mick View Post
    Ive been grumpy for a few days because of this... (the little black dot)
    Went to Dr yesterday arvo where they rolled my eyelid back and picked it out with a needle. Was about 1.5mm long.
    Crikey! That was scary, hope it healed alright.

  9. #1089
    Senior Member Bluey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by MowerRob View Post
    Most times they are placed in the middle of the lawn(they usually sit about 10-15cm high)and are in line with the letter box.
    They are normally on the boundary of the property ie. were thier land stops and Council begins
    Cheers

    Bluey
    Adelaide Home & Garden Solutions
    http://www.ahgs.com.au


    "Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when everyone is watching."

  10. #1090
    Senior Member Bluey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Was doing my last job this arvo. Been dodging rain and getting wet in the process. Was nearly finished when I looked up the road and noticed another lawnie just sitting in the street a couple hundred meters away watching me. Didn't think much of it but about 10 mins later I am packing up and he is still there. I am starting to think whats going on. Anyway I sit there for a while doing the paper work and he is still there. I drive off and go around the corner but it gets the better of me so I chuck a u turn and go back just in time to see him walking back across the street from my clients place which he is now parked directly opposite. So I drive down and pull up behind him. I front him about what he is doing and he is all jittery. So I go across to the clients letter box and sure enough there is a flyer hanging out of the box. I take it out and have a go at him about pinching clients. His excuse is that he is new and finding it hard to find clients. It would seem he thinks it is better to try steal them. He is really lucky I controlled my temper because I was not bloody happy about it. Told him to F*** off and find his own clients. Makes me wonder how long he was following me around.
    Cheers

    Bluey
    Adelaide Home & Garden Solutions
    http://www.ahgs.com.au


    "Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when everyone is watching."

  11. #1091
    Senior Member AL73's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Good on you Blu for standing up to the b*****d. What a parasite. Cutting another blokes grass is totally un Australian.
    Al
    May's Total Garden Care
    www.maystotalgardencare.com
    Ph: 0400556979

  12. #1092
    Senior Member bb1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    I have always being resonably lenient with my regular clients, and dont chase them for money to quickly because they will always end up paying. But I now have 2 who leave it till the 3rd visit. And I am getting grumpy, so adding the following note to just these copule of clients invoices........"Please note the following change to the XXXXXX trading terms.
    If payment is not received before the next scheduled visit, the service will be suspended until full payment is received"..... and than on the following invoice I will whack them with an above average price increase........ that should either get them back in line, or be sufficient to get rid of them

  13. #1093
    Senior Member geoff's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    A practice very dangerous to a new commer , something a newbie should avoid....have had that on many occasions , there are a few taberats I do for the Melbourne Racing club and every venue has a card handed to the staff by a gardener trying to muscle in ..I had a guy sit all day watching me doing the gardening the next week the manager called me in and said we have a quote to do the gardening and is cheaper than yours , but smiled and put the quote in the bin ....he said they are very happy with the service so why would the shift......moral if you work is great and service is super why would the client change unless they were a PITA

  14. #1094
    Member of forum Jayk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    Quote Originally Posted by bb1 View Post
    I have always being resonably lenient with my regular clients, and dont chase them for money to quickly because they will always end up paying. But I now have 2 who leave it till the 3rd visit. And I am getting grumpy, so adding the following note to just these copule of clients invoices........"Please note the following change to the XXXXXX trading terms.
    If payment is not received before the next scheduled visit, the service will be suspended until full payment is received"..... and than on the following invoice I will whack them with an above average price increase........ that should either get them back in line, or be sufficient to get rid of them
    maybe, tell them you are a small business, and have a family to support (sometimes softer line is the best mate). try and tug at the old heart strings a little!
    "Time trial. Start as fast as possible, finish as fast as possible and hope it is fast enough,"

  15. #1095
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    Default Re: Things that make me grumpy

    my advice to a new comer instead of trying to steal your clients he should have tried talking to you i had a new guy stop and say hello a few years ago I've passed on his name to heaps of people wanting work that I've been to busy to handle
    Anything Ian says may or may not be garbage, it may also be his own opinion or it may not be his opinion at all, it may just be something he felt like stating anyone following his advice does so at their own risk and may be doing something Ian would actually advise against.
    And if you don't like what Ian has to say use the ignore function if you don't know how ask i will gladly tell you

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